[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S664-S667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. ROTH:
  S. 1622. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on deltamethrin; to 
the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1623. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on diclofop-methyl; 
to the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1624. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on piperonyl 
butoxide; to the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1625. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on resmethrin; to the 
Committee on Finance.
  S. 1626. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on thidiazuron; to 
the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1627. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on tralomethrin; to 
the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1628. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on synthetic organic 
coloring matter c.i. pigment yellow 109; to the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1629. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on synthetic organic 
coloring matter c.i. pigment yellow 110; to the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1630. A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on pigment red 177; 
to the Committee on Finance.


    legislation to suspend temporarily the duty on certain chemicals

  Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce nine bills to 
suspend temporarily the imposition of duties on the importation of 
certain products.
  I am pleased to introduce six bills to suspend temporarily the 
imposition of duties on imports of certain chemicals used in the 
production of pesticides. These chemicals are deltamethrin, diclofop-
methyl, piperonyl butoxide, resmethrin, thidiazuron and tralomethrin. 
By temporarily suspending the imposition of duties, these bills would 
help AgrEvo USA, a company located in Wilmington, Delaware, lower its 
cost of production and improve its competitiveness.
  I am also pleased to introduce three bills to suspend temporarily the 
imposition of duties on imports of Pigment Yellow 109, Yellow 110 and 
Pigment Red 177. These high quality coloring materials are imported for 
sale in the United States by Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation 
(Pigments Division), a company located in Newport, Delaware. By 
temporarily suspending the imposition of duties, these bills will 
reduce significantly the cost of coloring materials that are used in a 
wide variety of finished products, including automotive parts, vinyl 
flooring, carpet fibers and plastic utensils.
  I ask unanimous consent that these bills be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bills were ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1622

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DUTY.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the 
     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by 
     inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:

           ``      9902.30.18       (1R,3R)-3(2,2-            Free          No change          No change          On or before 12/31/2000
                                     dibromovinyl)-2,2-
                                     dimethylcyclopropane-
                                     carboxylic acid (S)-
                                     alpha-cyano-3-
                                     phenoxybenzyl ester
                                     (deltamethrin) in bulk
                                     or in forms or packings
                                     for retail sale (CAS
                                     No. 52918-63-5)
                                     (provided for in
                                     subheading 2926.90.30
                                     or 3808.10.25).........
 

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
                                  ____


                                S. 1623

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DUTY.

       (a) In General.--Subheading 9902.30.16 of the Harmonized 
     Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by striking 
     ``12/31/98'' and inserting ``12/31/2000''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
                                  ____


                                S. 1624

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DUTY.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the 
     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by 
     inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:

[[Page S665]]

       

           ``      9902.32.99       5-[[2-(2-                 Free          No change          No change          On or before 12/31/2000
                                     butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]m
                                     ethyl]-6-propyl-1,3-
                                     benzodioxole (piperonyl
                                     butoxide) (CAS No. 51-
                                     03-6) (provided for in
                                     subheading 2932.99.60).
 

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
                                    __
                                  

                                S. 1625

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DUTY.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the 
     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by 
     inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:

           ``      9902.32.19       [5-(phenylmethyl)-3-      Free          No change          No change          On or before 12/31/2000
                                     furanyl] methyl 2,2-
                                     dimethyl-3-(2-methyl-1-
                                     propenyl)
                                     cyclopropanecarboxylate
                                     (resmethrin) (CAS No.
                                     10453-86-8) (provided
                                     for in subheading
                                     2932.19.10)............
 

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
                                    __
                                  

                                S. 1626

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DUTY.

       (a) In General.--Subheading 9902.30.17 of the Harmonized 
     Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by striking 
     ``12/31/98'' and inserting ``12/31/2000''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
                                    __
                                  

                                S. 1627

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DUTY.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the 
     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by 
     inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:

           ``      9902.30.19       Cyclopropanecarboxylic    Free          No change          No change          On or before 12/31/2000
                                     acid, 2,2-dimethyl-3-
                                     (1,2,2,2-
                                     tetrabromoethyl)-,
                                     cyano(3-
                                     phenoxyphenyl)methyl
                                     ester (tralomethrin) in
                                     bulk or in forms or
                                     packages for retail
                                     sale (CAS No. 66841-25-
                                     6) (provided for in
                                     subheading 2926.90.30
                                     or 3808.10.25).........
 

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
                                    __
                                  

                                S. 1628

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DUTY ON C.I. PIGMENT 
                   YELLOW 109.

       Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff 
     Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting in 
     numerical sequence the following new heading:

           ``      9902.32.00        Benzoic acid, 2,3,4,5-   Free          No change          No change          On or before 12/31/2000
                                     tetrachloro-6-cyano-                                                                                             ''
                                     ,methyl ester, reaction                                                                                           .
                                     product with 2-methyl-
                                     1,3-benzenediamine and
                                     sodium methoxide (CAS
                                     No. 106276-79-3)
                                     (provided for in
                                     subheading 3204.17.04).

     SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendment made by this Act applies with respect to 
     goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, 
     on or after the 15th day after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
                                  ____


                                S. 1629

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DUTY ON C.I. PIGMENT 
                   YELLOW 110.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the 
     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by 
     inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:

           ``      9902.32.05        Benzoic acid, 2,3,4,5-   Free          No change          No change          On or before 12/31/2000
                                     tetrachloro-6-cyano-                                                                                             ''
                                     ,methyl ester, reaction                                                                                           .
                                     products with p-
                                     phenylenediamine and
                                     sodium methoxide (CAS
                                     No. 106276-80-6)
                                     (provided for in
                                     subheading 3204.17.04).

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
                                  ____


                                S. 1630

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DUTY.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 99 of the 
     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is amended by 
     inserting in numerical sequence the following new heading:

           ``      9902.30.58       Pigment red 177 (CAS No.  Free            No change        No change          On or before 12/31/2000
                                     4051-63-2) (provided
                                     for in subheading
                                     3204.17.04)............
 

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from 
     warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. HUTCHINSON (for himself, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Smith of New 
        Hampshire, Mr. Craig, Ms. Collins, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Faircloth, 
        and Mr. Helms):
  S. 1631. A bill to amend the General Education Provisions Act to 
allow parents access to certain information; to the Committee on Labor 
and Human Resources.


                the parental freedom of information act

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, imagine, if you will, that your 
daughter is given an assignment by her teacher which requires her to 
keep a journal, not just a journal of her own intimate and very private 
thoughts, but of answers to questions that have been posed to her by 
her teacher. Should you as a parent have a right to know what questions 
the teacher has posed, what questions the teacher has asked?
  Now imagine that a research team from a local university is given 
permission by your child's school to perform psychological exams on 
your son or daughter. Should you as a parent in that situation have a 
right to approve of this exam before it takes place? Should you as a 
parent at least be informed about the impending exams?
  Finally, Mr. President, imagine that your son is required to take a 
class in ``decisionmaking'' which you are concerned may include 
discussion of issues that might violate or be contrary to the teachings 
you have espoused and inculcated in your children in the

[[Page S666]]

home.Should you, in that circumstance, as a parent have a right to 
review the classroom material prior to enrolling your children in that 
particular class, in that decisionmaking class?
  In each of these three examples, the clear and, I think, the obvious 
answer is yes, parents, as those to whom primary responsibility for the 
education of their children is entrusted, should be allowed to know 
what questions their children are being asked; parents should have the 
right to decide whether or not their children are examined 
psychologically; parents should have the right to review their 
children's curriculum.
  Unfortunately, the above examples are not just random hypotheticals 
that I dreamed up or that I had my staff dream up. These are real-world 
examples of how public schools are currently usurping the rights of 
parents to be informed about the education of their children.
  Mr. and Mrs. Robinson from Sheridan, AR, have yet to learn what 
questions were posed to their daughter by her teacher in an in-class 
journaling assignment. Parents in Monroeville, PA, have yet to obtain 
their children's records maintained as a part of a research project run 
in their children's school by the University of Pittsburgh. Parents in 
California have been forced to go to court to view the curriculum being 
used in their local school for a class that they fear may delve into 
deeply personal matters.
  How can this be the case? How can we have this situation in a country 
founded on the principles of freedom, in a country that has always 
respected the parents' ultimate authority in the rearing and education 
of their children? How can parents be denied basic information relating 
to their children's education?
  The answer may lie in a book recently published by Eric Buehrer 
entitled ``The Public Orphanage.'' In this book, Mr. Buehrer points out 
that public schools have become ``one-stop social service agencies'' 
attempting to address the needs of children that were traditionally the 
responsibility of the children's parents.
  Whether this trend is the errant result of a legitimate attempt to 
fill the void left in children's lives with the breakdown of the 
American family, or whether this trend is part of a more sinister 
philosophy based on belief that ``Washington or Government knows 
best,'' it is a trend that is leading to lower educational achievement 
and to less clearly defined standards of right and wrong for our 
Nation's children. In short, I think it is a trend that we should not 
allow to continue.
  The importance of parents in the education of their children was 
clearly emphasized in 1994 by Secretary of Education Richard Riley in 
testimony before the Committee on Labor and Human Resources. In this 
testimony, Secretary Riley, I think very powerfully and poignantly, 
emphasized that ``Thirty years of research tells us that the starting 
point of American education is parental expectations and parental 
involvement with their children's education'' and that schools must 
``establish a supportive environment for family involvement.''
  Despite this important parental role, Secretary Riley pointed out 
that ``many parents feel that their right to be involved in school 
policy--to be full participants in the learning process--is being 
ignored, frustrated or even denied.'' In short, Secretary Riley noted 
that many parents simply do not feel ``valued'' by the schools that 
educate their children.

  So today, I am introducing legislation that will value the role of 
parents in educating their children. It will help to establish a 
supportive environment for families by guaranteeing parents a place at 
the table in decisions central to the creation and implementation of 
education policies within their local schools.
  This legislation builds on the already well-established principles 
outlined in the 1974 Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, which 
ensures that parents have access to all records which public schools 
maintain on their children. The Parental Freedom of Information Act, 
which I am introducing today, will strengthen the rights of parents by 
guaranteeing them access to the curriculum being used to teach their 
children. Current law, the 1974 law, ensures that parents will have 
access to the records and files that are maintained on their children. 
But we need to go a step further. We need to build on that successful 
1974 legislation by ensuring that parents also have the right to access 
the curriculum being used to teach their children. I think it is a 
reasonable provision which allows parents to review their children's 
textbooks, audio-visual materials, manuals, journals, films and any 
other supplemental material used to educate their children.
  On the surface, one would think this legislation shouldn't be 
necessary. I think most Americans assume that parents already have the 
right to go into the school and ask to see the books, ask to see the 
curriculum materials, ask to see the supplemental materials, ask 
permission to view a film that might be shown to their children, to 
look at the journals that are in the library, and to have basic access 
to all of the information and all of the curriculum materials being 
used in the education of their children. But unfortunately, the record 
is now replete with examples of where parents have run into a stone 
wall and have met stiff resistance when they have tried to obtain that 
kind of basic educational information. Information which is so 
essential to the education of their children.
  So we say on one hand, we want parents to be supportive, we want 
parents to be involved, we want parents to attend PTA, we want them to 
attend parent-teacher conferences, we want them to show by their 
actions that they are actively involved in the education and upbringing 
of their children. We don't want our public schools to be social 
orphanages that take care of the children from breakfast until supper.
  Then, on the other hand, we allow policies to be enacted in local 
schools across this country that resist that very desire by many 
parents, that make it difficult, if not impossible, to access critical 
materials being used in the education of their children.
  The Parental Freedom of Information Act will provide parents access 
to curriculum and to the testing materials administered to their 
children, and it will require parental consent prior to any student 
being subjected to medical, psychological or psychiatric examinations, 
testing or treatment at the school.
  This legislation is very basic and straightforward and, I think, is 
just plain common sense. This legislation will empower parents by 
providing them access to the information they need to oversee and 
direct the education of their children and will slow, and hopefully 
reverse, the establishment of schools as public orphanages.
  I look forward to pursuing this legislation in committee and with my 
colleagues in the Senate.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1631

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Parental Freedom of 
     Information Act''.

     SEC. 2. INFORMATION ACCESS AND CONSENT.

       (a) In General.--Section 444 of the General Education 
     Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(i) Instructional and Testing Materials.--
       ``(1) In general.--No funds shall be made available under 
     any applicable program to any educational agency or 
     institution that has a policy of denying, or that effectively 
     prevents, the parent of an elementary school or secondary 
     school student served by such agency or at such institution, 
     as the case may be, the right to inspect and review any 
     instructional material used with respect to the educational 
     curriculum of, or testing material administered to, the 
     student. Each educational agency or institution shall 
     establish appropriate procedures for the granting of a 
     request by parents for access to the instructional material 
     or testing material within a reasonable period of time, but 
     in no case more than 30 days after the request has been made.
       ``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Instructional material.--The term `instructional 
     material' means a textbook, audio/visual material, manual, 
     journal, film, tape, or any other material supplementary to 
     the educational curriculum of a student.
       ``(B) Testing material.--The term `testing material' means 
     a copy of any test (without responses) that is administered 
     to a student during the current or preceding school year,

[[Page S667]]

     and if available, any statistical comparison data regarding 
     the test results with respect to the student's age or grade 
     level. The term does not include a nonclassroom diagnostic 
     test, a standardized assessment or standardized achievement 
     test, or a test subject to a copyright agreement.
       ``(j) Right of Access.--
       ``(1) In general.--A parent of an elementary school or 
     secondary school student whose right to gain access to 
     information or material made available to the parent under 
     this section during the 30-day compliance period set forth in 
     subsection (a)(1) or (i)(1) is knowingly or negligently 
     violated may maintain an action for appropriate relief after 
     the last day of such period. Appropriate relief includes 
     equitable or declaratory relief and reasonably incurred 
     litigation costs, including a reasonable attorney's fee.
       ``(2) Limitation.--A civil action under this subsection may 
     not commence more than 2 years after the last day of the 30-
     day compliance period set forth in subsection (a)(1) or 
     (i)(1).
       ``(k) Parental Consent.--No funds shall be made available 
     under any applicable program to an educational agency or 
     institution that, as part of an applicable program and 
     without the prior, written, informed consent of the parent of 
     a student, requires the student--
       ``(1) to undergo medical, psychological, or psychiatric 
     examination, testing, treatment, or immunization (except in 
     the case of a medical emergency); or
       ``(2) to reveal any information about the student's 
     personal or family life (except to the extent necessary to 
     comply with the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5101 et seq.)).''.
       (b) Right of Access.--The third sentence of section 
     444(a)(1)(A) of the General Education Provisions Act (20 
     U.S.C. 1232g(a)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``forty-five'' 
     and inserting ``30''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. CHAFEE:
  S. 1633. A bill to suspend through December 31, 1999, the duty on 
certain textile machinery; to the Committee on Finance.


                      duty suspension legislation

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, this afternoon I am introducing 
legislation to suspend the duty on the importation of certain textile 
printing machines that are used by textile manufacturers in the United 
States.
  These particular machines are used for the printing of patterns, 
designs and motifs on fabrics--an important process in the making of 
textile goods. However, none of these machines are made in the United 
States. That means domestic manufacturers must import these machines at 
considerable cost, which does not help their ability to compete in what 
is an increasingly challenging market. Yet since there is no domestic 
industry producing these machines, the duties serve little purpose.
  The bill I am introducing would lift the duty imposed on these 
machines. It is my hope that by doing so, we will be helping the 
textile industry in this country to improve its competitiveness and 
maintain its workforce, both in Rhode Island and around the nation.
  By introducing this legislation today, I believe there should be 
ample time for review and comment on the bill, and that it can be ready 
for inclusion when Senate begins work on comprehensive duty suspension 
legislation this year.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1633

       Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives of the United States of America in Congress 
     assembled, that
       (a) Subchapter II of Chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff 
     Schedule of the United States is amended by inserting in 
     numerical sequence the following new heading:


 
    ``9902.81.20  Other textile      Free   No        No        On or
                   printing                  change    change    before
                   machinery                                     12/31/
                   (provided for in                              99''
                   subheading
                   8443.59.10)
 

       (b) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to 
     goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, 
     on or after the date that is 15 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (c) Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of 1930 
     or any other provision of law, upon proper request filed with 
     the Customs Service within 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, any entry, or withdrawal from 
     warehouse for consumption, of goods described in subheading 
     8443.59.10 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
     States--
       (1) which was made after December 31, 1997, and before the 
     date that is 15 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, and
       (2) with respect to which there would have been no duty if 
     the amendment made by subsection (a) applied to such entry or 
     withdrawal,

     shall be liquidated or reliquidated as if such amendment 
     applied to such entry or withdrawal.

                          ____________________